Before buying my car the FAQs and variety of information on this site was invaluable, so thanks everyone.
I've been a BMW fan for a long while, stemming from my Dad's E28 520i that did huge mileage when he set up business, and was our family weekend car as well when I was a lad. I've owned M3s in the past, and before buying my RS4 ran an E46 330i, which I got on really well with and kept in perfect running order.
The BMW has done 112k and is around 13 years old, nothing too drastic, but I had begun noticing other E46s in carparks with slightly rough people getting in and out of them, so felt like a change was coming, especially as I sometimes use my car for business trips. My financial situation had improved during BMW ownership, and I came to the conclusion that a brisk estate was order of the day to carry around our young family.
Now, I like the design cues of the older BMWs, hoffmeister kink, low waistline and centre consule tilted towards the driver, but post Bangle, I find the designs a bit hit and miss, and overall too fussy. Lots of high waistlines, wheels that look small in the arches and creases everywhere to break up the slap sided designs. So BMW were not really considered. If they did an E46 M3CS Touring I'd be all over it.
Initially I was pretty set on a Golf R, as they drove nicely and were flavour of the month, but a hatch would be too small, so I looked into the estate. Features like the fake secondary exhaust tips and the fact that the visuals are a bit diluted when the R look is applied to the estate but me off. We have a couple of B8 A4 Avants in the business, and so looked into those, and also the S4 Avant with the V6, and thats when the RS4 came onto the radar. I was aware of the B5, but had never really become knowledgeable about the B7. If I chose wisely I could buy either generation of RS4 for the similar price of a newer 3.0 tdi or S4, and the lack of depreciation cost would help pay for the thirstier nature of the V6T or V8. Man maths!
The next thing was to test drive both generations. I found a garage nearby who happened to have both in stock, so set about arranging a drive. I started with the B5, very clean, but initially felt dated inside and small in the back. That engine though. It didn't sound that charasmatic, but the midrange punch was really something - probably the quickest feeling car I've driven. Next came the B7, and I instantly bonded with it. The engine felt really special and sounded really nice in the cabin at any rpm. This example was nice, but at the price hadn't had the main jobs done or much history, so I left it and began searching in earnest.
I couple of weeks later and a car came up in the classifieds which sparked my interest like a sprint blue car in a sea of black and grey, literally. This RS4 Avant was enthusiast owned with the following jobs done, and still under warranty:
- 4 x new DRC
- New clutch and flywheel
- New sus bushes all round
- New control arms
I happened to be working over near where the car was based a couple of days after I spotted it, so could easily drop in for a look around it. The stars seemed to be aligning for me. On closer inspection, the car was immaculate, good for 88k, with sticky exhaust flaps the only thing I could find that needed a fettle. The car had the following options:
- Slightly lower factory springs
- Buckets with cloth cushions
- Heated rear seats
- Armrest
- Set of rubber mats and boot liner for autumn/winter and original mats for summer
- Carbon airbox and CAI fitted
So I put in an offer and came to an agreement. I really wanted the car for the weekend, and it so happened that the previous owner was picking up his new car, a 997 Porsche 911 from Leicester the next day. Much closer to me in Derby than Suffolk where the car was kept, so I agreed to meet him to pick up his new car and pick up the RS4.
You all know what these cars are about, but I'd summarise by saying that every mile feels special, and the engine dominates. The way it covers ground down the average B road leaves me moist palmed, but the RS4 feels absolutely planted. When you get to the next junction you remind yourself that you are actually in an estate car, not an R8.
So, the car is a delight with all the expensive stuff done, and joins my classic Alfa and the wife's Golf Mk5 as the family wagon.
And almost the best colour 
